Cost, Commercial Viability and Quality
Reasoning about fixed and variable costs, price, marketability, innovation, production risk and fitness for purpose.
How to prepare for the GCSE Design and Technology written exam
Move from requirement to evidence, technical principle, comparison and justified decision. Use current board materials separately for the NEA and for full timed-paper rehearsal.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Commercial viability depends on demand, price, total cost, production capacity, competition, risk, legal duties and ability to deliver consistent value.
Exam cue: Separate cost, selling price, revenue and profit before using figures.
Concept 2
Fixed costs do not change directly with short-run output, while variable costs change with quantity; unit-cost conclusions must state the production volume and assumptions.
Exam cue: Explain how scale spreads setup cost but may increase inventory or market risk.
Concept 3
Quality means meeting relevant requirements consistently and being fit for purpose, not merely adding features, expense or luxury finish.
Exam cue: Judge innovation by user value and feasibility, not novelty alone.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using price and cost as synonyms.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Assuming the lowest unit cost creates the most viable product.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Equating quality with premium appearance only.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Memory anchors
Fixed cost
A cost that does not change directly with output over the stated range.
Variable cost
A cost that changes with the quantity produced.
Revenue
Income from sales before costs are deducted.
Commercial viability
The realistic ability to deliver and sustain an offering in its market.
Fitness for purpose
The extent to which an outcome performs the functions and conditions required.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What are fixed costs?
Which production cost is classified as variable?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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